Free!

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Alternative Titles

English: Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club

Synonyms: フリー！

Japanese: Free!

Information

Type: TV

Episodes: 12

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Jul 4, 2013 to Sep 26, 2013

Premiered: Summer 2013

Broadcast: Thursdays at Unknown

Producers: Lantis, Iwatobi High School Swimming Club, Asahi Broadcasting

Licensors: Funimation, Discotek Media, Crunchyroll

Studios: Kyoto Animation, Animation Do

Source: Original

Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Sports, Drama, School

Duration: 24 min. per ep.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 7.56¹ (scored by 221,126 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score. Please note that 'Not yet aired' titles are excluded.

Ranked: #1483²

² based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #166

Members: 393,667

Favorites: 8,213

7.56

Ranked #1483Popularity #166Members 393,667

Summer 2013TVKyoto Animation, Animation Do

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Episodes: /12

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Synopsis

Haruka Nanase has a love for water and a passion for swimming. In elementary school, he competed in and won a relay race with his three friends Rin Matsuoka, Nagisa Hazuki, and Makoto Tachibana. After claiming victory at the tournament, the four friends went their separate ways. Years later, they reunite as high school students; however, Rin couldn't care less about returning to the way things used to be. Not only does he attend a different school, but the sole thing important to him is proving that he is a better swimmer than Haruka.

After the bitter reunion, Haruka, Nagisa, and Makoto decide to form the Iwatobi High School Swim Club, but they will need a fourth member if they hope to take part in the upcoming tournament. Enter Rei Ryuugazaki, a former member of the track team whom Nagisa recruits. As the time to compete draws near, the four develop a close bond while training intensely to come out on top and settle things between Haruka and Rin once and for all.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Episode 1 was previewed at screening in Marunouchi Piccadilly 3, Tokyo on June 26, 2013. Regular broadcasting began on July 4, 2013.

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Related Anime

Other:	Kyoto Animation: Suiei-hen
Side story:	Free!: FrFr - Short Movie
Sequel:	Free!: Eternal Summer
Prequel:	High☆Speed!: Free! Starting Days
Alternative version:	Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley - Kizuna

More characters
Characters & Voice Actors

Tachibana, Makoto

Main

Yukino, Satsuki
Japanese

Matsuoka, Rin

Main

Miyano, Mamoru
Japanese

Nanase, Haruka

Main

Matsumoto, Megumi
Japanese

Hazuki, Nagisa

Main

Yonaga, Tsubasa
Japanese

Ryuugazaki, Rei

Main

Hirakawa, Daisuke
Japanese

Matsuoka, Gou

Supporting

Watanabe, Akeno
Japanese

Nitori, Aiichirou

Supporting

Miyata, Kouki
Japanese

Mikoshiba, Seijuurou

Supporting

Tsuda, Kenjirou
Japanese

Sasabe, Gorou

Supporting

Yanaka, Hiroshi
Japanese

Amakata, Miho

Supporting

Yukino, Satsuki
Japanese

More staff
Staff

Nakamura, Shinichi

Producer

Utsumi, Hiroko

Director

Tsuruoka, Youta

Sound Director

Yamada, Naoko

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

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"Rage on" by OLDCODEX

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#1: "SPLASH FREE" by STYLE FIVE (Nobunaga Shimazaki, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Mamoru Miyano, Tsubasa Yonaga, Daisuke Hirakawa) (eps 1- 11)
#2: "EVER BLUE" by STYLE FIVE (Nobunaga Shimazaki, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Mamoru Miyano, Tsubasa Yonaga, Daisuke Hirakawa) (ep 12)

More reviewsReviews

Jan 26, 2014

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 10

bitchin_free (All reviews)

271 people found this review helpful

Ok, first, a straight, young guy talking here. I've watched this anime in about two days, about 6 episodes per day. That's how captivating this anime was for me. It's probably the highest number of episodes of an anime I've ever watched in such a short time, but anyways, let's get to the actual review:

I am aware of all the hating coming from one side of the anime community, I mean, I hate fanservice myself. But firstly: I usually am capable of ignoring it if the story/action/characters of the anime are good; and secondly: interestingly enough I didn't have much of a problem with the fanservice in this show, i.e. girl- or gay-oriented fanservice. Being able to simply laugh at the gayish scenes made this anime kind of more enjoyable to me. In fact, that's probably the best proof that I'm heterosexual (not that there is any problem with being gay or of any other sexual orientation, never).

Regarding the story, until about the first 4 or 5 episodes I thought it was ok, simple, but still good, amusing and catching, while including a lot of clichés or tropes, but that's ok. The cool thing is that it is still done very professionally and high quality-like. Using a cliché isn't bad in itself, but there are ways of doing it well and ways of doing it wrong, this show does it splendidly, IMO. The scenes are kind of predictable and unpredictable at the same time: you guess what is going to happen, still you are amazed at how good it is performed. But entering the second half of the series... it still goes perfectly in the line of what has happened before, it just gets way more gripping and intense. [SPOILER ALERT] Seeing the protagonists entering in professional competitions and understanding the feelings of the characters (which, again, is done so well) really awakens that sports-spirit inside you. [SPOILER ALERT END] The relationships among the characters also brings back that old topic of "valuing true friendship" (again, another cliché), which, IMO, is one of the most important matters in general, be it in an anime, movie, reallife-story... But let's get to the character development.

Without including the time of when the characters are kids or small teenies, the actual story lasts for MoL 2-3 seasons/ half a year. If you distribute this among 12 episodes, it's pretty obvious that you can't afford too much character development. Still, I really enjoyed the personalities of each of the main characters (including the girls and EXCLUDING Nitori), as they were all quite different, yet complementing each other. [SPOILER ALERT] It's no secret that I specially liked the development between Haru and Rin, and also the backstory of Rin's father (the tragedy during the tsunami). [SPOILER ALERT END] Repeating this for the one thousandth time, they were no unique or revolutionizing types of character, but they were very enjoyable (and that's the most important thing to me).

In terms of Art and Sound I can only say that both are outstanding. The animations are at the peak of what the anime industry could deliver during the time of the release and specially "the diving in the water" and, of course, the bodies of the characters are just beautiful (I am aware that this might sound gayish, but damn do I wish to have their bodies xD). Both the opening and the ending fit the anime very well and during the 12 episodes I almost always listened to them (if I didn't it was for the simple reason that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next). The OST is probably the only reason why the "sound" section didn't make it to a "10". It's in no way bad, but it just didn't have any special track for me to remember. Be it an epic, a sad or a serious song, they all are good, but no track in the OST actually made me want to search it up on YT.

In conclusion: To me, there were only a few minor things that annoyed me at some points, though nothing which the rest of the show couldn't make me forget. For the rest, I can confidently say that I'm happy I got to watch this anime as it made me laugh a lot while still following an interesting, emotional and exciting storyline, and coming to remember the vital importance of things like sports and friendship.

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Feb 11, 2014

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 8

Fear_the_Reefer (All reviews)

262 people found this review helpful

About two weeks ago, I went into Gaia’s AMC forum to post a poll, asking the community what 2013 anime I should watch next. I expected Silver Spoon or Gatchaman Crowds to win, and they received 7 and 10 votes, respectively placing in second and third place. The winner, with 24 votes, was Free! Iwatobi Swimming Club, the notorious #SwimmingAnime that came into existence thanks to a viral animation sample, and an almost revolutionary ‘give us this show’ petition.

So, with almost half of that poll’s 60 voters daring me to dive head first into manservice oblivion, what was I supposed to do? Was I supposed read more

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Jul 2, 2014

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 6

Waldy565 (All reviews)

46 people found this review helpful

"For the team..." - from the director of Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-On, Clannad and Lucky Star comes a show about swimming. And you know, I like it. The story follows 5 swimmers, four from middle school to the present (Nanase, Hazuki, Tachibana, Rin), the other a track and field club member who eventually gets won overbfrom Hazuki (Rei) and Rin's little sister, who is also the coach/support for Nanase, Hazuki, Tachibana and Rei. Without spoilers, Rin... Moves on in life without Nanase, Hazuki or Tachibana and this is of course fully explained, and I like how the story shows the guys experiences from both sides. Nanase is our main character, so we see the experience from his side and how he misses swimming with Rin and sometimes doesn't see the point if he can't swim with his former teammate, and from Rin's side we see how he gets disc...ouraged, and wishes he... could swim with his former teammate... Oh. To be honest the story is fairly weak, but what makes it bearable is the ending, it's really heartwarming and for anyone who's read my Love Live review, you'll understand why four life long friends coming together after a long stint of not seeing each other is heartwarming to moi.

The other characters are pretty much there just for support and to flesh out the story, though of course the ending again makes them redeeming. They are all likable at least, but you can tell the story and character is focused on this rivalry between Nanase and Rin.

Must admit, there are pros of course. As well as the ending I keep going on about, and this will be personal, I love swimming IRL. So the premise for the show drew me in, but it's disheartening to know it's kind of just another string to the main ploy of the show, Nanase and Rin. The other is the art - we're talking Clannad or above. It's quite beautiful, BUT - it's really wierd. Because you can't speak of Free! without the male fan service - well, I mean it's for females to enjoy, but all the guys are male... OK, OK. LOTS OF RIPPED HIGH SCHOOL LADS, AND A GIDDY FEMALE TEEN. It just seems jarring to the almost serious relationship between Nanase and Rin. What really took me out of it, and I kid you not, Rin turned his head slowly as his hair was being windswept and cherry blossoms blew in front of his face...

OK, quick rap up. Pros:-
(IMO) premise (as in swimming)
Art
Relationship between characters (mainly ending)

Cons:-
Weak story
Jarring plot threads
Lack of real need for support characters

And this anime comes with a recommendation to stream, if it seems interesting to you, but not to feel bad if you can't watch it all the way through. 6/10.

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Aug 3, 2015

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 7

_Megami (All reviews)

41 people found this review helpful

(This is a review for all of the Free! series, including Free! Eternal
Summer, but spoiling neither of them, it is too generic so feel free
to read it)

Mizu wa ikitteiru
Hito tabi tobikomeba, soichu wa tachimachi kiba wo muki osoi kakate kuru
Dakedo, osoreru koto wa nai...

Watching Free! gives you a feeling different from the usual you get when watching anime...like when you're playing a game with storyline and plot-forget Dota 2, remember Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts-and you enter that world. Not necessarily being consumed by it at the point where you can't sense your surroundings or remain ignorant towards the time and place, but willingly letting yourself be absorbed in it, welcoming the reality you're going to enter. Same way Death Note is an anime but also something more, Free! also has a specific like that, although in case it doesn't hit a soft spot in you, it is pretty much an average piece of work. Half of the reason why that happens can be explained, the other half is the combination of infinite factors that are unlikely to be recorded or described, much like not knowing why a hug feels the way it does, a piece of music, a picture.
So, Free! is set in a seaside town, a town approachable and familiar like one's neighborhood, like the town in a game, seeming impossible to navigate yourself through it at first, but ending up knowing every street and narrow. You know it's not Tokyo or some existent Japanese city...it is the known world you'll find yourself every time you open the episode. It is the Iwatobi highschool, the ocean, the swimming school, the hills and the swimsuit shop...another Konoha, another Hollow Bastion. A good reason to justify that notion would be because of the town's structure and the way the houses are lined up, not wanting to say welcome to a city, a street, but welcome to Free!
And inside there a story starts unfolding and characters to act. A story realistic from the aspect of six boys hooked on their hobby and confronting real-life problems, however lacking in realism when it comes to the actual dialogues or extravagant kindness and pure way of thinking, attitude...You can't say that Free! is more of a slice of life genre than it is about sports. It is purely sports genre, only a different kind of it. For it is not presenting the story of some geniuses that could exist somewhere-unlikely-, it shows the story of some gifted people that do exist somewhere. As an anime, it will not make the impossible possible or fire you up to death with the unbelievable result of a game or the unearthly effort of an athlete, and that is exactly why you can relate to it, and perhaps share some of the happiness they feel at times,but also the reason why you will forget it more easily. Kuroko no Basket does inflict strong emotions at you, deluging you with awe and excitement in every game, but it utterly shatters every prospect of you taking up something such as basketball. Free! focuses more at the concept of athletics, emphasizing on the general atmosphere around the world of sports and ultimately stimulating your desire for attaining that kind of life and the perks that come with it...the friends, the friendly antagonism, the quality consumption of time and the healthy fortifying of body and soul.
As far I am concerned, I consider the unjustified and unrealistic disputes among the characters to be the opposite of a drawback, but the fact that they are foolish remains. Human relationships in Free! as well as the core of the plot is a bit childish, although contributing in the fact that watching Free! feels like entering a fairy tail. At long last, deviation from reality is the only reason we play games or watch anime, to provide ourselves with the extraordinary real life can not provide us with. Moreover, Free! is fun to watch because in each episode things that divert from the usual range of things an anime plot includes happen. The anime won't be filled with scenes of the school, them training, them competing, and them eating...but with the variety and flow of scenes that caused people to call it a slice of life anime.

The relationship of sympathy, friendship and rivalry between the boys is noteworthy...at the largest part the positive or negative feelings between them will seem unreasonable, unjustified and illogical, however when it comes down it, the one think it struggles to emphasize through all these, while using swimming to narrate it, is how people mourn childish, pure feelings when they reach an age where they soon will have to grow up. Those feelings that once you remember them you realize that by now, they are merely a shadow of what they used to be, and still you don't want to let them fade...you know you will never experience them the same way you once did, but still, you want to preserve the shadow of them, because you are scared to let them wear completely off...let a part of yourself completely wear off...a part that is important because you liked it...Same way, they obsess over the relay, because they want to remember that important thing they once had, in an effort to find the measures in order to sew it in their current age.

Now for the real drawback, none of the seiyuus' voices matched the characters' appearance or personality, at a point where at times they sounded utterly unreal, yu-gi-oh like. Of course, their lines supported that style but it still ruined the scene in case you noticed it. The background music however, totally makes up for it. Favorite part is when they toss their clothes or hair aside to challenge each other in swimming and there's promptly dubstep to contribute in the tension. All of the background music in general will catch your attention, every important scene will be enhanced with rock music, violin, piano, rap or whatever the respective mood demands. The openings are rock pieces, aiming to pump you up, while the endings pop with cheerful and funny visuals.

Free! is the first anime I have watched where the background art was amazing but inferior to the character drawings. Each one has like a thousand details on him, from the visible muscles in their bodies to their perfect shaped hair and uniquely bright eyes. Haru's eyes are more blue and clear than any form of water and the arrangement of outfits in each episode might make you feel bad for your sense of fashion. The rest is like all well made art nowadays, the colors only might be a little brighter to be in harmony with the anime's cheery nature.

Therefore, if you do not mind the easy-going pace, lack of suspense and excessive drama at times, Free! is a notably pleasant break from the enthralling, heart beat enhancing usual anime...

Parenthesis...

I do not understand what people mean about manservice, I just watched a really pleasant story, full of summer, water and optimism with characters that were a bit too emotional at times. When a girl moans and rubs her thighs together while tasting Soma's food, yeah I can say fanservice. But, I won't sweat for hidden meaning just because a guy in swimming suit helped another guy in swimming suit out of the pool. We are fortunate enough to have the authority of commenting on another person's serious work, as well as to have hundreds of people read what is us judging a professional's work from our seat in front of the pc. More or less, that person's means of living can be marked as good or bad because of us, so the least we can do is respect that privilege. Nobody grabbed the other's ass, they just showed naked belly, when down to it they have to because it's a swimming themed anime, how do you want it to show swimmers, with snow equipment or maybe focus on their toes...

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